Baccano! - Volume 18 - Chapter Aft

AFTERWORD

It’s been quite a while. This is Narita.

So, the Baccano! series is approaching its tenth anniversary, and the only parts left to tell are this one, 1935, and the epilogue of the whole series, 2003.

As the people who’ve read this volume are probably aware, this arc is going to revolve around both Firo and him. Compared to Ladd, Christopher, and the rest of that crew, he’s a total nobody. What is he going to do next?

On top of that, one of the strongest characters in the series, a guy who’s right up there with Ronny, has completely switched sides. Will Firo, Ladd, and company have a shot at winning?

Not only that, but why does that one guy—who should be a character new to this volume—look so much like that other character?

Will the Croquis clan I wrote about somewhere, at some point, actually appear?

When will Chi and Adele come into it?

Will Dallas and Eve show up at all?

At the beginning of this 1935 arc, there are still a whole lot of mysteries left, and since over half of the existing cast is going to appear in it, it may run a little long.

At this point in time, I haven’t nailed down the conclusion yet. Where will the crazy ruckus of 1935 end up? I hope you’ll watch it unfold from the edge of your seat!

The childhood friend, the young girl who appears in that one guy’s memory, has actually already appeared in a bonus novel for the Baccano! anime DVDs. That bonus novel may be turned into a book, like 1932 Summer… Or it may not. Right now, no one’s sure, but I hope those of you who don’t know her yet will look forward to finding out what sort of character she is!

Regarding my future plans—to be honest, they’re a confused jumble of all sorts of things. Sometimes even I don’t know what I’ll be writing next, but I’d like to bring Baccano! and DRRR!! to a stopping point first, then work on Vamp!, 5656 (2), and Hariyama, the Center of the World, while also starting on new stories.

I’ve been doing more jobs with other companies recently: I got to write a BLEACH novelization, I wrote Danganronpa IF, the bonus mode for Super Danganronpa 2, and I’ve participated in Red Dragon as a game player. As you’d figure, though, Dengeki Bunko’s Baccano! is where it all began for me, and I’ll work hard so you can enjoy the last few volumes, all the way to the end!

Please stick with me until then!

…And now that I’ve reaffirmed my resolution, I’m sitting here playing Super Danganronpa 2 and Dragon Quest X because the air conditioner’s broken and it’s so hot I can’t work.

So far, in a move to save energy, I’ve managed to get through it with electric fans and bamboo shades, but what with the exhaust heat from the computer on top of everything else, I’m just about at my limit. And actually, because of this heat, my computer overheats and shuts down even before I do.

I’ve been cleaning my place so I can call the repair guy, and I keep turning up all these memories I’d love to consign to oblivion, like all the various characters I made. Examples include superpowered characters, Evangelion fan characters, and all-powerful pirates. I went to the trouble of printing these things out on a printer. I don’t even know how many times I’ve almost died in agony while I’m cleaning…! I even saw my clumsy attempts at illustrations in there. I don’t know whether these tears are from the dust I’m kicking up as I work or the urge to murder myself.

Even so, when I think that all this mortifying history is why I’m here today, as embarrassing as it is, it’s still a precious memory and the foundation of all my work, so I think I’ll put it away carefully. As far back in the closet as possible. In a cardboard box sealed with a ton of packing tape.

(Mutter…) Besides, to be completely honest, Nebula, which appears in most of my series, and several of the vampires are straight from those mortifying lists of super strong and huge corporations I dreamed up, and my own all-powerful vampires filled up notebooks anyway, cough, ahem.

I get the feeling I may have mentioned something that should never be said, but even though the stress and summer heat fatigue are demolishing my gastrointestinal system, I’m feeling great. I’ve got more energy than I’ve ever had before!

And that’s a lie.

However, I’d like to hurry and get this place cleaned, blow off stress by gaming, conquer the hot summer blahs, and bring you stories in peak condition! Wish me luck!

Oh, and about DRRR!!— Incredibly, both the latest manga volume and this book will hit the shelves on September 10th! Satorigi and Kuma, seriously, thank you so much! I’ll work hard to ensure that DRRR!! and Baccano! will each make the other more of a blast!

*The usual thank-yous begin here.

To my supervising editor, Wada (Papio), and the rest of the Dengeki Bunko editorial department. To the copy editors, for whom I always cause trouble by working too slowly, every single time. To the staff in all the departments at ASCII Media Works.

To the people who are constantly taking care of me: my family and friends, and other writers and illustrators.

To Director Omori, Ginyuu Shijin, and everyone else I’m indebted to in anime, manga, games, and other areas of the media mix.

To Katsumi Enami, who’s as busy as ever but still drew the terrific characters that grace this last section of the 1930s arc.

And to everyone who read this book.

All the people mentioned above have my deepest gratitude. Thank you very much!

August 2012, Ryohgo Narita